The effects of homing and movement behaviors on translocation: Desert tortoises in the western Mojave Desert

Published source details Hinderle D., Lewison R.L., Walde A.D., Deutschman D. & Boarman W.I. (2015) The effects of homing and movement behaviors on translocation: Desert tortoises in the western Mojave Desert. Journal of Wildlife Management, 79, 137-147.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Translocate adult or juvenile reptiles: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles Action Link

Translocate adult or juvenile reptiles: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles

A replicated, controlled study in 2009–2010 in a site of desert scrub in California, USA (Hinderle et al. 2015) found that translocated Agassiz’s desert tortoise Gopherus agassizii all survived and did not return to their home range if they were translocated more than 5 km from the capture site. All tortoises survived at least 37 days (40 individuals) or at least seven months (40 individuals). Nine of 47 translocated tortoises returned to their initial capture site (8 of 18 returned from 2 km; 1 of 15 returned from 5 km; 0 of 14 returned from 8 km) between five and 37 days after translocation. Tortoises were initially located and fitted with radio transmitters (80 individuals). In 2009, tortoises were translocated 2 km (10 individuals), 5 km (7 individuals) or 8 km away (6 individuals) from their capture location or released at their point of capture (17 individuals). In 2010, a further group of tortoises were translocated 2 km (8 individuals), 5 km (8 individuals) or 8 km away (8 individuals) from their capture location or released at their point of capture (16 individuals). In September–October 2009, tortoises were radio tracked for 37 days before being returned to their point of capture. In April–October 2010, tortoises were tracked for 186 days. Tortoises were located 2–7 times/week.

(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, William Morgan)